No textbooks in Maharashtra schools even as unit tests begin

Textbooks for a newly introduced subject, Self-Development and Art Appreciation, for Class 9, were not available in the market

Mumbai: Although the Maharashtra state board has changed the Class 9 syllabus from this academic year, many Mumbai schools are sticking to the old one for the first term. The reason: textbooks for new subjects and question paper pattern are unavailable even as schools begin first unit tests.

Teachers in schools affiliated to the Maharashtra board have said it is impossible to teach the new syllabus as the board has not yet trained them. Schools have not received any clear instructions. (HT photo/For representation only)

Schools have complained that two months into the academic year, textbooks for the new subject, Self-Development and Art Appreciation, were not available in the market.The graded subject was introduced this year for class 9, replacing work experience, personality development, and social studies.

Contents of the syllabus and question paper pattern of other subjects are pending too. Without this it’s tough to teach the new syllabus, said teachers. “Many of the schools are sticking to the old syllabus for the first term,” said Ravi D, a teacher from Bhandup. “The first unit tests have already began in schools from today.”

Teachers said it is impossible to teach the new syllabus as the board has not yet trained them. Schools have not received any clear instructions. “We only know the new marking pattern, that too from social media groups, so we don’t how much to rely on it,” said Father Thomson Kinny, principal, Sacred Heart Convent School For Boys, Santacruz. “The board has not sent hard copies of any circulars.”

On July 12, the board had issued a circular changing the assessment pattern for languages - scrapping the 20 mark internal exams. Instead, students will have to write full 100 marks papers. Following that another circular on June 27, stated that schools will have to hold practical exams for mathematics.

Board authorities blamed the state textbook publishing bureau, Balbharti for the delay. “Textbooks for Class 9 were to be printed by Balbharti, we are not responsible for it,” said Gangadhar Mhamane, chairperson of the Maharashtra state board of secondary and higher secondary education.

The board has asked schools to access its website for information on marking scheme.

Duttatray Jagtap, chairperson, Mumbai division said, “We have uploaded the circulars on our website and schools can download it from there.”